Driving mechanism for conveyers or moving stairways



@cit. G, 1936. H. w. SHONNARD 2 5 DRIVING MECHANISM FOR CONVEYERS OR MOVING STAIRWAYS Filed June 11, 1935 4 SheetsS-heet l ATTORNEYE;

@QL. 6, 136. H. w. S HONNARD DRIVING MECHANISM FOR CONVEYERS OR MOVING STAIRWAYS Filed June 11, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS @ccfi. 1936.. H. w. SHONNARD 2,@55411 DRIVING MECHANISM FOR CONVEYERS OR MOVING STAIRWAYS Fild June 11, 1935 4'Sheets-Sheet 3 iNvENToR,

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR CONVEYERS OR MQVING STAIRWAYS 1936- H. w. SHONNARD I Filed June 11, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Rd Y 5 N0 /R E WM W A d av MB 6% Patented Got. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES DRIVING MECHANISM FOR CONVEYERS OR MOVING STAIRWAYS Harold W. Shonnard, Montclair, N. J.

Application June 11, 1935, Serial No. 25,969

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in driving mechanism for conveyers or moving stairways.

Its object is to provide a simple and eflicient equipment which may be constructed at less cost and which will occupy less space than that heretofore available.

Another object is to provide a, unitary power unit which can be shop assembled and moved as a whole into a space between the end loop guides of a conveyer or movingstairway.

Another object is to provide an arrangement which will prevent that portion of the panels of the stairway truss which support the step chain sprocket axle from spreading.

A still further object is to provide means for stopping the driving mechanism in' the event of a change in speed beyond predetermined limits, unintentional reversal, or in the event of any change that may occur in the relative speed of the step chain sprockets.

According to this invention the driving mechanism required to maintain the steps or carriers in motion, including the controller and governor, is accessibly contained within that portion of the frame or truss in which the steps or carriers travel, and the driving motor, transmission gear train, and brakes are likewise accessibly contained in the space between the usual series of steps or carriers and between the elongated pairs of loops at the sides of the steps or carriers. ,By positioning the motive mechanism within the said loop, it becomes possible to combine the step or carrier chain sprockets, the transmission gear train, the brakes and the guides for the steps, into a single shop assembled unit, having transverse members attached thereto for supporting the aforesaid unit on seats in the truss, which seats, being previously prepared, support and accurately locate the unit in proper alinement in the truss.

Heretofore, in moving stairways of the type herein described, it has been the practice to position the driving motor, the controller and the governor, together with most of the speed reducing gear train outside to the rear or'below the upper end of the stairway truss, which practice unnecessarily occupies much valuable space- The reduction in overall length of this structure, effected by placing the driving mechanism within the loop of steps and the reduction in width, effected through the use of a dead axle for supporting the step chain sprockets in the manner herein described, is of distinct advantage in premises wherein space is limited.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following specification in which the invention will be described and its novel features pointed out in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, V 5

5 Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a moving stairway provided with internal driving mechanism which is made according to and embodiesthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken on. theirregular line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

. Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation of some of the parts shown in Fig. 1, showing the principal elements which constitute the herein described removable unit equipment of the stairway. The. section in this figure is taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation showing a detail of construction. The section in this figure is' taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5- is a plan view, partly in cross section, showing a modified arrangement of some of the parts;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the stair roller guide assembly; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional end elevation of a safety control device.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding partson each of the figures.

I!) designates the side frames or truss plates 3 uponwhich the moving stairway is supported.

II and I2 are guides for the steps or carriers l3 which are'provided with rollers which run in theseguides, These guides are interconnected 35 by a web 40. 2 Such steps or carriers form an endless loop extending between two terminals between the truss plates. Chains l4, driven by a motor [5, are the propelling means for the steps. The motor I5 is situated, according to 40 this invention, in the space between the guides at the sides ofthe steps and between the upper and lower run of steps. The motor shaft is connected with the chains through a coupling 16, worm I1, worm gear 18 on a transverse shaft I9, 45 pinion 20 in mesh with gear 2| on shaft 22, pinion 23 on shaft 22 in mesh with an internal gear onsprocket 24 which drives one of the chains [4. Sprocket 24 is mounted; on a transverse stationary axle 25 on the other end of which another sprocket wheel 26' which drives the other chain M is similarly mounted. A similar train of gearing between motor l5 and an internal gear'within sprocket 26 is provided within the casing 44. Flanges 21 are'rigidly aflixed. to the ends of the axle '25. The sprocket 24 is carried by a disc 30 which extends from a hub 31 rotatably supported on axle 25 by anti-friction bearings 32.

33 is a brake drum on the hub 3|. 34 is a brake strap, the ends of which are secured to pins 35 and 36 on a pair of bell crank levers 31 on a shaft 38, one end of which is supported by a lug 39 and the other end by a web 40 which interconnects the step wheel guides H and I2. 4| is the plunger of a solenoid attached to the web 40, which plunger is connected with .the .end of the brake levers 31 which are connected together at this point. 43 is a weight on these connected brake levers 31.

The parts thus described are shown in the lower part of Fig. 2. Similar parts, including the brake mechanism, interconnect the wormshaft' IS with the sprocket 26.

The gear assembly or transmission, from the shaft of worm l8 to the shafts 22 inclusive, is contained in a casing 44. One end of this transmission cas'ingis" 'aflixed to a transverse beam 45, as at'46f Its other end restsupon and is affixed to' the transverse axle25 "by shackles 41. The lug 39 is on this transmission casing.

One end of each of thestair wheel guidestis attached to thet'ransverse beam 45 by angle brackets 48. This guide assembly is also providedwithbracesfland 50.

By means of this construction, the transmisjsion casing 44,transverse axle 25,' sprocket wheels 24' and 26,th e s ta'ir wheel guides II and I2, the brake assembly and the transverse beam become a'compiete'umtwhi'ch can'be assembled p'r'io'r' toits installation in the truss.

" The manner in which these assembled parts are providedio'rthe ends of a transverse'beain 56 adjacent beam 45. Seats 53 and 54 are providedon'each truss pl'atidr the stair'wheel guide assembly b'ra'ces"49 and respectively.

The motor I5 is supported on a pair of beams 55 which are parallel'witHthe's'ide plates I0 and 'run between the beam 56 on seats 52 and another transverse beain 51." Thebe'a'ni45 is supported on the ends of beams 55.

In"the modification "shown in Fig. 5 the sprocket 24 is mounted upon a sleeve 31A which extends across'to the-other side of the structure andbears'the other sprocket '26 and rotates 'on stationary shaft 25. In this casea motor I5A with'a self-contained reduction gear is used to drive worm wheel l8, mounteddi rectly upon the sleeve MA and the shackles 415 "are constructed to form'bearings for this sleeve. The motor is mounted 'iipon the transverse beam '56 in this case; The structure thus far described has the advantagesh er'ein set forth; of 'being"capable of shop-assemblage, of easy installation and of occupying nospa'ce outside of the moving. stairway structure. The" specific design is capable of modifications which would come 'within 'the scope' of the inventiona defined in th appended claims.

Structures of this type are usually equipped with "safety and"'c o ntrol devices, and those which m a fa t q'f t is nv n n re shs w i in lifijg sfl; 12 and 5am illustrated in'n ore'f g tt11mr' g.7."

' an 51 re d plicate il, pressure mumps ew r n e y m .justed. ranged to actuate a .switch arm 15 to open the "motor and brake solenoid circuits. This cirdriven from sprockets 63 on the disc 30. Each of these pumps is arranged to draw oil or other suitable liquid from a tank 64 through a pipe 65 and to return it under pressure through a passage 66, past an adjustable by-pass valve 61 to a pressure cylinder 68. The by-pass Valve discharges directly into the tank 64.

69 is a plunger in pressure cylinder 68. A cam 10 is connected by a rod H with plunger 69. This rod passes through a threaded collar 12 by means of which the compression of a spring 13 bearing on the plunger may be ad 14 is a roller bearing on cam 16 arcuit is shown diagrammatically in Fig. '7. These .parts' are .50 adjusted that when the fluid pressure in cylinder B B is at a predetermined amount, the cam 16 will be positioned to allow the switch arm 15 to close the motor and brake circuit, but whenthe pressure drops below or exceeds the predetermined amount the circuit will be broken.

l'flAis another cam similarly actuated by ,the um 55.9 9 99 a WitQh 3 m 5 the Q 5 I .Qconnected in series with those str le b t wi ehle m 15- 'h'en' thespr'oc'ket Wheels 24, 2,6 and the two chains are running at desired and equal speeds the pumps 50 and ,6] will force liquid into the pressure cylinder 68 and a similar'cylinder under'cam 19A at sufi cient pressures to cause the plunger 69 and the similar plunger under cam "[64 to raise the earns 10' and 10A to their central positions. During this operation the pump pressures are not suflicient to close the binass lves fil m th .s These a e are provided with a double adjustment, in that each of them is'supported on' a rod 16 which passes through'asleeve'l'l, a part of which is threaded and adjustable in the cover of the tank 64. The position off this sleeve determines the d tance be we n the va e .6 and i seat- The upper end of rodl6 is threaded and prodi d w th la n ts 1.8 y meter of which e i l i on of a 5 n 19 ma be' iu e This valve arrangement is so adjusted that rin t e rmal u i'o th apparatus t 1 circulation will pass through the by-pass valve intothe itank"64.

If the s ep d e main 4 whic is op atab connectedwith the pump 6!, attains a speed in excess 6f" that which itis intended to run, the pressurein cylinder'fig will r and cause plungfl as e d This h isi he c nn c i ow W 1 me th me a'nd b e ir u As soon as the'pump pressure in passage 66 rises above "norma it will, vane 61 to be raised against" its seat so that the full pressure gen erat'ed bypu s 61' will go into the pressure cyle inder 68. The" same "thing will "happen if the chain I4, which is associated with 66, exceeds its normal speed in Whichcase the cam 'lflA willbe faisdtb open the niotor and brake circuit.

'Itis' to be noted that if one of the pumps, for

example pump BI, is not maintained at its nor- 7 driving arrangements shown in Figs. 1-3. When the main drive sprockets 24, 26 are driven from a common sleeve, according to the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, but one pump is needed. This safety device is shown more or less diagrammatically, as the specific construction and arrangement can be varied widely within the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a conveyer comprising a series of movable carriers interconnected to form an endless vertically disposed train, guides for the carriers forming end loops, a transverse member interconnecting the guides near one of said loops, propelling means for the carriers, and means supported by said transverse member positioned between the guides and Within one of said loops for driving the propelling means.

2. In a conveyer comprising a series of movable carriers interconnected to form an endless vertically disposed train, guides for the carriers forming end loops, a transverse member interconnecting the guides near one of said loops, propelling means for the carriers, a transverse axle for the propelling means, and power transmission means supported by said transverse member and by said aXle.

3. In a conveyer comprising a series of movable carriers interconnected to form an endless vertically disposed train, guides for the carriers forming end loops, propelling means for the carriers comprising a sprocket, a sprocket chain and an internal gear to drive the sprocket positioned outside of the guides, a motor and power transmission means for driving the sprocket positioned inside of the guides and Within one of said loops.

4. A conveyer comprising spaced stationary frame members, guides spaced from said members and afiixed thereto, a series of movable carriers on said guides interconnected to form an endless train, propelling means for the carriers between the guides comprising a supporting stationary transverse axle extending beyond the guides and affixed to the frame members.

5. A conveyer comprising spaced stationary frame members, guides spaced from said members and afiixed thereto, a series of movable carriers on said guides interconnected to form an endless train, propelling means for the carriers between the guides comprising a stationary trans verse supporting axle extending beyond the guides and affixed to the frame members, sprockets mounted on said axle between the side members and the guides, a motor and power transmission means positioned within the guides.

6. A conveyer comprising spaced stationary frame members, guides spaced from said members and affixed thereto, a series of movable carriers on said guides interconnected to form an endless train, propelling means for the carriers between the guides comprising a stationary transverse axle extending beyond the guides and affixed to the frame members, sprockets mounted on said axles between the side members and the guides, a motor and power transmission means between the motor and each of the sprockets positioned within the guides.

7. A conveyer comprising side frames, a transverse member afiixed to said frames, a series of interconnected movable carriers supported by the frames, driving means for the carriers supported at one end by said transverse member, said driving means comprising a transverse axle, and means for detachably securing the axle to the side frames.

8. A conveyer comprising side frames, guides supported thereby, a series of movable carriers on said guides interconnected to form an endless vertically disposed train having end loops, a transverse member affixed to the frames near one of said loops, power transmission means for the carriers supported at one end by said transverse member, said power transmission means comprising a transverse supporting axle, and means for detachably securing the axle to the side frames.

9. A conveyer comprising side frames, guides supported thereby having inner and outer portions forming an end loop and an intermediate connecting web supported by the side frames, a series of movable carriers on said guides interconnected to form an endless vertically disposed train, propelling means for the carriers, a motor and power transmission means positioned between said guides, and a brake for the propelling means supported on the transmission means and on said intermediate web.

10. In a conveyer comprising a series of interconnected vertically disposed movable carriers, propelling means for the carriers, power transmission means for the propelling means, stationary frames outside the propelling means, a transverse member interconnecting the stationary frame members, a transverse axle for the propelling means, and a frame for supporting the power transmission means attached to the transverse member and to said axle.

11. In a conveyer comprising a series of movabie carriers interconnected to form an endless vertically disposed train having end loops, guides for the carriers, a transverse member interconnesting the guides near one of the said end loops, propelling means for the carriers, power transmission means for the propelling means, a transverse axle for the propelling means, and a frame for supporting the power transmission means attached to the transverse member and to said axle.

12. In a conveyer comprising a series of movable carriers interconnected to form an endless vertically disposed train, gm'des at the ends of the carriers, propelling means for the carriers, a brake wheel associated with the propelling means, a frame for the transmission means positioned between the guides, and retarding means for the brake wheel positioned between said guides and the transmission frame.

13. A conveyer comprising a series of interconnected movable carriers, propelling means therefor comprising chains at the sides of the carriers, a sprocket for each chain, a motor, separate transmission mechanisms between the motor and each of the sprockets, an electroresponsive brake for each of said sprockets, circuits for the motor and the brake, and means actuated by each sprocket arranged to open said circuits whenever the speed of either sprocket varies from a predetermined rate.

14. In a conveyer comprising a series of movable carriers interconnected to form an endless vertically disposed loop having two substantially straight sides and two substantially semi-circular ends, a transverse support disposed substantially at the axis of one of the semi-circular ends of the loop, driving means for the carriers comprising driving means within said loop, and a transverse member within said loop, said driving means being supported by said transverse support and by said transverse member.

15. In a conveyer comprising a series of movable carriers interconnected to form an endless vertically disposed loop havingtwo substantially straight sides and two substantially semi-circular ends, guides for the carriers, a transverse axle disposed substantially at the axis of one of the semi-circular ends of the loop, driving means for 

